Former IGP Oryema's family in land dispute

Aug 20, 2019

Nancy Oryema,46, the granddaughter of the first black Police boss (1964-1971), testified on Thursday at the land probe commission public hearing in Kampala.

LAND DISPUTE

KAMPALA - The estate of former Inspector General of Police(IGP) Erinayo Oryema and Reserve Force Commander Maj Gen Otema-Awany, are locked in an ownership battle over 6,400 acres in Nwoya district.

Nancy Oryema,46, the granddaughter of Uganda's first black Police boss (1964-1971), testified on Thursday at the land probe commission public hearing in Kampala.

She introduced herself as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, resident in Lagos, Nigeria, and London, England.

Nancy alleges that Otema-Awany is claiming a huge chunk of the land (over 3,000 acres). She also said Deputy NRM Secretary-General Richard Todwong, is occupying part of the land (380 acres), among others who are also laying claim to the land.

The granddaughter was flanked by her only surviving paternal uncle William Oryema 71. The land is located in Tangi village. Nancy said Oryema was buried and reburied on the contentious land, which had a farmhouse, machinery and was a model mixed farm.

She said during the reburial in September 2014, President Yoweri Museveni encouraged the family to return home, reclaim their land and develop it to full potential.

Nancy explained that her grandfather purchased the land on January 1, 1969. She said in 1981, her grandmother Janet Acoyo Oryema, aunt Pamela Oryema, and father Henry Onek, were registered proprietors of the land.

She said the family can only access 650 acres, with the rest being a subject of contention.

and probe interpreter avid ekiziyivu illiam ryema and ancy ryema consult each other during the and probe hearing at ational rchive and ecords centre boardroom ampala on hursday ug 15 2019 hoto by icholas ajoba

Land probe interpreter, David Sekiziyivu, William Oryema and Nancy Oryema consult each other during the Land probe hearing at National Archive and Records centre boardroom, Kampala on Thursday, Aug, 15, 2019. Photo by Nicholas Kajoba

Eldest daughter claims sole ownership

Nancy narrated that her aunt Getrude Oryema asserts sole ownership, from which Otema-Awany derives his claim. She said Getrude triggered the family woes.

"In 1984, aunt Getrude came back from exile and insisted that as the first daughter, she was entitled to the land. She kicked us out of the land, and we left for England at different times," said Nancy.

"Next thing we heard was that Maj Gen Otema-Awany had taken over the land. In September 2014, he said Getrude had lived in his hotel Acholi Inn for a long time, without paying for accommodation, so she gave him 700 acres in exchange."

Getrude linked to fraud

Nancy stated that she attempted to convince Getrude, that the most prudent thing to do about the vast land, was to divide it amongst the beneficiaries. But that a livid Getrude banged the table and retorted, "never!"

Nancy explained that her two aunts Mary Onen and Betty Oryema sued Getrude over mismanagement of the estate.

Consequently, Justice Eudes Keitirima, in a judgment dated February 6, 2015, rebuked Getrude, branding her fraudulent, after she submitted documents indicating her as sole owner, and never mentioned that the title was derived from Oryema.

Todwong response

The deputy secretary-general of the NRM political party, Richard Todwong who is also linked to the allegations of land grabbing, has denied claims that he is involved in land grabbing from Erinayo Oryema's family.

Todwong vehemently refuted claims that he grabbed part of the land from the family and turned it into his residential home and farmland.

The family of late Oryema, the former Inspector General of Police are seeking redress and assistance from the Commission of inquiry into land matters to reclaim what they say was original land on which they lived and farmed for years.

While responding to the testimony of Nancy Oryema, Todwong told the commission that he acquired his land from his brother Godfrey Otim. He said, his brother Otim acquired the land from the late Peter Ocaya, who was a neighbour to Oryema's family.

"I have never encroached on their land, where we are, is not in any way on their land. We are in the neighbourhood and we are an easy target to get than any other community, "Todwong said.

Todwong said the boundary of the late Oryema's land is well known and there is no way he could have encroached on the land. He asked the commission to visit the contested land to ascertain the truth.